Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Sri Lanka commencing April 4 will be another significant milestone in strengthening economic cooperation while removing some irritants on the path towards friendlier relations.

Official sources confirmed that proposed Indian investments in the energy, ports and other sectors will figure in the discussions between Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The projects include joint venture for the use of second world war vintage oil tanks in Trincomalee, wind and solar power projects in the north and east, speedy completion of West Terminal of Colombo Port and joint ventures in railway modernization and the important digital public infrastructure platform for which already the two leaders agreed during the New Delhi talks.

India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour and both countries have strong historical, social, religious and political ties that provide a solid foundation for lasting friendship and cooperation. However, Indo-Lanka ties had ups and downs since ancient times and fortunately for the people of the two nations, the leaders displayed sagacity and wisdom to iron out differences.

Programme change 

Initially, Modi was to arrive in Colombo for the official visit and go to Trincomalee, where he was to launch the Sampur Solar Power Project. However after giving due considerations to some opinions expressed by Buddhist Mahanayakes, the visit to Sampur was dropped and Modi will now go to Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, where he will offer homage to Sri Maha Bodhi, sapling of the Bodhi tree Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Launching of solar power project in Sampur will be done virtually from Colombo. During Modi’s visit, the two nations will sign a host of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), covering economic, defence and energy sectors.

Indian analysts believe that India should feel safe and secure as a nation to follow up on all these issues that were initiated as a part of New Delhi’s ever-expanding ‘Neighbourhood First’ and SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) vision.

Fishing dispute evades solution
 
An irritant that evades solution is the illegal fishing by Indian fishermen. While the two countries currently maintain a robust relationship, the festering fishing dispute revolves around Indian fishermen, primarily from Tamil Nadu, crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan waters, often due to depleting fish stocks on the Indian side, and has been a major irritant in bilateral ties. This has led to frequent arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, confiscation of boats, and imposition of fines. In 2024 alone, over 550 Indian fishermen were arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters with a large number of Indian fishing vessels confiscated.

To Modi’s great embarrassment, Tamil Nadu State Assembly passed a resolution this week calling for India to take back Katchatheevu Island, of which Sri Lankan sovereignty was accepted by India decades ago. Modi is not likely to raise the issue in Colombo as the Indian government has informed the Supreme Court that Katchatheevu is not a disputed issue and the island belongs to Sri Lanka. This was decided in 1916 during colonial rule and later confirmed when Indo Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary was demarcated in 1974.

Much talked about greater connectivity between the two countries and proposed bridge between north Sri Lanka and south India may not figure during the talks in Colombo this weekend. When Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha called on Buddhist Mahanayakes in Kandy, they expressed concerns over the proposal. After that New Delhi dropped direct reference to the bridge proposal. 

Most analysts believe that India changed Modi’s programme to appease the majority Buddhist community, which will be happy to see the Indian leader pay homage to Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura rather than visit the Tamil minority in Sampur in the east.

Some opposition parties have also urged the government to disclose the details of the proposed defence pact. If it is in the lines of the Indo-Soviet defence agreement or the Indo-Bangladesh defence and friendship pact signed after the 1971 war, it is likely to run into heavy weather.

(The author, a former Sri Lankan diplomat, is a political and strategic affairs commentator. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at sugeeswara@gmail.com)